3 minute read
The Respect Life Committee: Providing Essential Education and Defending the Defenseless
After Chris Arnold lost one of her twin sons, she opened her heart to God’s healing graces in a powerful way.
“Although David was born healthy, his twin brother was stillborn,” she says. “Seeing what a perfectly formed baby he was really changed my husband’s mind about abortion. Going through that whole experience has inspired me to keep trying to save babies as well.”
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Today, Chris serves as a coordinator of the Respect Life Ministry along with Mary Spond. In her position, she has enjoyed fighting for the cause of life alongside several other dedicated ministry members.
“Some of the members of our group have personal reasons for wanting to be a part of the ministry, such as that they have lost children or they have family members who have struggled with loss,” Chris says. “We also believe it is our duty as Catholics to defend the defenseless.”
According to their mission statement, the Respect Life Ministry works to provide information and education, as well as to encourage others to be active concerning the many threats toward the sanctity of human life. Their meetings take place on the first Tuesday of each month, from September through May, in the old Adoration Chapel at 6 p.m.
Together, ministry members promote the Gospel of Life and shower God’s mercy on the world around them. Each fall, they participate in 40 Days for Life in Arkansas — an effort of prayer and fasting to end abortion. This year, it will be taking place from Sept. 22 to Oct. 31, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., in front of Planned Parenthood, located at 1501 Aldersgate Rd. in Little Rock. Our parish will be responsible for covering all 12 hours on Oct. 30. Those who would like to sign up for this effort can do so on sheets located at each of our parish entrances.
“Every day during these hours, a volunteer commits to praying in front of Planned Parenthood in Little Rock,” Chris says. “We pray peacefully and hold pro-life signs as a visual symbol of our support for the Gospel of Life.”
In the end, their hard work and sacrifices bear beautiful fruit for the Kingdom of God.
“People see us when they drive into the clinic area, and our presence gives them a reason to question if they are really about to do the right thing or not,” Chris says. “If they come up to us and want to talk, we are happy to be there for them, answer their questions, and refer them to further resources. We also have an influence on those who see us from the street. Some of them honk in support of what we are doing, and some of them even stop and pray along with us.”
Later in the fall, the ministry helps out with the Arkansas Pregnancy Center Banquet to raise money for the Arkansas Pregnancy Center. This year, the banquet will take place on Oct. 28 and feature a talk from Shawn Carney, the National Coordinator of 40 Days for Life.
“The center is located right next to the only surgical abortion clinic in Arkansas,” Chris says. “It is a non-profit, faith-based organization which offers free ultrasounds and classes. It also has a store with baby items. I am very involved with the center. When women come in, we give them all kinds of support, and we have a full-time nurse who can talk to them about their options.”
Each May, the Respect Life Ministry offers a Baby Bottle Campaign to raise donations for pro-life efforts.
“Last year, our parish donated over $3,000 in cash and over $2,000 worth of baby items,” Chris says. “We definitely have a parish that is open to helping mothers and their unborn babies. Overall, the Respect Life Ministry gets a good amount of support from our parishioners for the various activities and events we participate in throughout the year.”
Each December, ministry members send out Christmas cards to the homebound and the infirm.
“Our group does this because we believe in supporting life from conception to natural death,” Chris says. “In each Christmas card, we include a spiritual bouquet of rosaries that each member of our group pledges to say for those receiving the cards.”
Last but certainly not least, the Respect Life Ministry participates in the Arkansas March for Life at the capitol in Little Rock each January.
A parishioner chooses a baby bottle tag labeled with a baby item for the Arkansas Pregnancy Resource Center’s Baby Bottle Campaign.
A few of the IC parishioners who attended last year’s March For Life at the Arkansas Capitol, stand behind the parish banner.
